Through a desire to learn more about our sea turtles habitat and an ever growing understanding of climate change impact, we here at JTP are driving a new project to greater monitor and assess the coral reef here in Juara Bay.

Kg Juara Bay

Kg Juara Coral

Having been visited by Stefan Peters (Senior Lecturer in GIS – Global Information Services, at University of Technology, Malaysia), we were fortunate enough to have him share his expertise on digital mapping. Stefan volunteered with us here at JTP in April 2015 and could not wait to come back to guide us through this exciting new project.

Stefan returned earlier this month and spent three intensive days teaching staff members how to use digital mapping software. He downloaded and brought with him an abundance of satellite images and official government mapping data that we would not ordinarily have access to. During his short stay we managed to come up with two separate methods of accurately measuring coral reef areas in Juara Bay.

The next step is the fun part…we will sea kayak out to the reef to snorkel and make observations while taking underwater pictures. We will collect GPS data from different key locations and collate this into the mapping software.

Over the coming months we plan to create an interactive database where any new information brought ashore by someone out snorkeling in the bay can be easily added to the map, this information will grow and eventually paint a realistic picture about the overall health and vitality of the coral reef areas. Eventually the goal will be to identify all manner of coral and associated wildlife in these areas down to species level, and monitor them over a period of many years, charting their growth and reproductive cycles. By having it on a digital mapping format we should also be able to display the information on charts and maps in our education center as hard-copies so the general public can have access to this type of information.

Has this inspired you or peaked your interest? We are looking for volunteers who have experience in underwater photography (perhaps with a high quality camera), skills with GIS, knowledge on coal species and methods of identification. If this sounds like you, please hit the link to our volunteering web page and drop us an e-mail.

In the afternoon on the 5th of April, JTP was informed by local’s in Kg Paya that an injured adult green sea turtle had been spotted in the same area for 3 consecutive days. JTP immediately organised rescue equipment and a boat was kindly offered by Riverview / Little Planet.

Two members of staff and JTP founder John Amos set on their way to assess the situation. We arrived in Paya to pick up the local guys and they took us up the river to find the turtle. It didn’t take long to spot her, she was deep along the river , an unsuitable habitat for a sea turtle.

All wrapped up and in transport back to JTP

John got out of the boat to get a closer look, what he saw was a full grown female green turtle with extensive shell damaged from a boat propeller. She was very inactive and wasn’t able to move her hind flippers. She also had buoyancy issues which meant she couldn’t dive down to get food or avoid dangers.

If she was left in the river she would of only lasted a few more days. It took 8 people to get the large mother on to our boat meanwhile JTP staff and volunteers back at the project started preparing for her arrival. Luckily we filled Jo’s tank a few days earlier so we would have somewhere safe for her to recover.

Marine biologist and JTP manager, Izzati, cleaned and medicated her wounds before we left her for the night to adjust to her new temporary surroundings. For the next few days we tried to get her to eat, we collected sea grass and fish but unfortunately she wasn’t interested. She was still unable to dive or move her hind flippers and spent most of the day floating around on the surface clearly traumatized by her injuries and from her encounter with the boat propeller.

JTP staff assist the Tioman Island vet as he cares for the turtle

The local vet came to see her on the 11th of April and he injected her with antibiotics and cleaned her wounds. She still wasn’t eating which was a major concern for us, but we saw a little bit of movement in her flippers.

We contacted a couple of sea turtle biologists who gave us great advice about the best rehabilitation methods. We were told that he had seen many cases like this and in most instances when the shell heals over, the buoyancy issues normally right themselves. However, there was also a possibility that she could be suffering from infections or internal damage which could only be seen by an x ray.

A side view of the injury

The next day, the 12th was a great day here at JTP……she finally started eating! And oh boy was she hungry. She managed to work her way through a large amount of sea grass. Things were looking up for this beautiful turtle. That night she even started moving her hind flippers and attempting to dive more frequently. Unfortunately her bum resurfaced with every attempt.

She was getting stronger everyday and her appetite was very healthy. We kept cleaning and medicating her wounds. Her recovery seemed to be going well but sadly on the morning of the 23rd, she was found submerged on the bottom of the tank. JTP staff carefully climbed into the tank to see if she was just sleeping but regrettably she had passed away.

Swimming on one of her better days

Our in house marine biologist preformed an autopsy on her and once inside we could see the extensive damage on her spine. Although we tried our best to help her, her death was unavoidable.

Although there was no happy ending to this story for our poor injured sea turtle, we here at Juara Turtle Project appreciate that we made this magnificent creatures last few weeks of life as comfortable and free from predators as we we could. She could at least sleep easy and eat some delicious sea grass.

On the 16th of February late in the afternoon, large balls of crude oil could be seen rolling in on the waves. Solidified oil washed up on Mentawak beach through the night but the full extent of this environmental catastrophe was only visible the following morning. Mentawak beach in Juara Bay was hit hardest. This beautiful beach is used by local families, tourists and is one of the last known refuges for our nesting Green and Hawksbill turtles on Tioman.

Resort owners along the beach were out in full force. JTP and Little Planet assembled staff, volunteers and locals who were all eager to help keep our beaches safe and clean! Alvin from Reef Check was contacted and he immediately alerted the Marine Park officials and Tekek Town Council. Help was on the way!

The clean up team spent a grueling day in 40 degree heat moving the oil by hand into big piles which we transferred to wheelbarrows and dragged through the thick sand to relocate near the road. Juara Lagoon Resort unfortunately received the bulk of oil. Little Planet staff played a major role in the days to come, toiling through the next week collecting and moving the oil. From this area alone 700 cement bags were filled each weighing around 50kg!

We were left with a big question…..what do we do with the oil?!

The solution came from Juara Headman, Razib. Thanks to Razib working closely with the authorities and for organising a JCB to move all 700 bags to a pontoon boat. On the 11th March the oil was taken to the mainland to be disposed of by the Malaysian Government.

This is not the end of the story, this catastrophe highlights a need for deeper understanding of oil spill mechanics. Where did this crude oil come from? And how much still remains in the sea? There was no news of sunken liners or accidents so we can only assume it was irresponsible dumping. Industrial liners run on crude oil and sadly the leftover poor quality oil that resides in the bottom just gets dumped overboard causing havoc to local marine ecosystems. Will we ever know which liner was responsible? Or will justice ever be sought. Unfortunately it is unlikely.

Our hope here at Juara Turtle Project – with the support and companionship of the local community, local authorities and resort owners – is to have an oil spill initiative where there is a response team set up with all the resources required to clean up and dispose of waste. Support is needed from relevant government officials. Oil needs to be removed in days, not weeks. We need to put an end to irresponsible oil dumping. This is the very least we can do for the beautiful planet we live on. We live in hope that one day we as a species can learn to respect our home without destroying it.

So, we have arranged with a vet clinic to come and spay cats here for a few days! If you have been here, or to Asia in general, you probably have experienced A LOT of cats and know what we are dealing with, it never seems to end!

We will be getting the vets here and accommodating them, they will be working for free… and we are fundraising for anesthetics, painkillers, and additional kitty medications. So please help out and donate! Thank you.

Too many cats turn them from being a nice domestic animal into being a pest that people will be angry with and probably mistreat. Plus they will become mangy messes overrunning the dumpsters, cafes and eating all the local wildlife… not a good scene.. we’ll try to control the situation before it gets out of hand, with your help please.

She was discovered missing on 1st of January when we went to feed her at 9am. Staff member Rahim was the last to see her, the night before at around 11 pm.

We immediately started searching from the beach and jetty, but could only start searching by boat after the third day because of bad monsoon waves, so even if we had been able to get on the water it would have been nearly impossible to see any occurrence of Jo coming up to breathe..

We searched for about 1 week by kayaking and speed boat around Juara Bay. On the 7th day somebody informed us about seeing weirdly behaving turtle by Chebeh, a small island north of Tioman. We went by speed boat and spent the afternoon searching but the weather was not good either and we found nothing.

Then we received another tip that some people fishing had seen a turtle by Renggis Island in front of Berjaya Resort, Tioman. We went by speedboat to search but again found nothing.

So now after almost three weeks we have decided to stop searching.

Jo is bigger and stronger now so maybe predators wont disturb her but she is still incapable of finding her own food.

Green Mother heading back to the sea we stay out of her way..As the Mother covers her nest we have already collected her eggs and are careful not to scare herThe Mother starts to cover her new nest in the bushes at the top of Mentawak Beach in Juara

Working with Reef Check Malaysia’s Tioman team for a 3 in 1 day survey session of Tioman’s East Coast. The data is being collected on a long term basis and gets submitted to Reef Check, an international organization. See our Research page for more information, or visit the Reef Check Malaysia web site.

We are also working with Reef Check Malaysia to monitor for any coral reef bleaching that occurs. Together we are doing this, with others, by weekly monitoring a few test areas around Tioman. We are monitoring locations on this East Coast. No significant bleaching has occurred yet, but this survey is important to provide a base line for reference if there are any bleaching events in the future.